Portland Mayor Seeks Millions from Neighboring Counties for Homeless Shelters

Keith Wilson appeals to Washington and Clackamas counties for funding assistance amid growing homelessness crisis.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:51pm by Ben Kaplan

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Portland Mayor Keith Wilson is requesting millions of dollars in funding from the neighboring Washington and Clackamas counties to help finance homeless shelters within the city. The mayor cites the growing homelessness crisis as the driving factor behind the funding appeal, as Portland struggles to provide adequate shelter and services for its unhoused population.

Why it matters

Homelessness has become an increasingly visible and pressing issue in the Portland metro area, with the city's limited resources straining to meet the growing demand for shelter and support. By seeking financial assistance from the surrounding counties, Mayor Wilson aims to bolster the city's capacity to address this regional challenge through expanded shelter options and services.

The details

In his request, Mayor Wilson is asking Washington and Clackamas counties to each contribute several million dollars to help fund new and existing homeless shelters within the city of Portland. The mayor argues that the homelessness crisis is a regional problem that requires a coordinated, multi-jurisdictional response, as many of the unhoused individuals in Portland originate from or have connections to the neighboring counties.

  • Mayor Wilson made the funding request on April 6, 2026.

The players

Mayor Keith Wilson

The current mayor of Portland, Oregon, who is seeking financial assistance from neighboring counties to address the city's growing homelessness crisis.

Washington County

One of the counties adjacent to Portland, Oregon, that Mayor Wilson is appealing to for funding to support homeless shelters in the city.

Clackamas County

Another county adjacent to Portland, Oregon, that Mayor Wilson is requesting financial assistance from to help address the city's homelessness challenges.

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What they’re saying

“Homelessness is a regional issue that requires a regional solution. We need our neighboring counties to step up and partner with us to provide the resources and support our unhoused neighbors desperately need.”

— Mayor Keith Wilson

What’s next

The Washington and Clackamas county governments will review Mayor Wilson's funding request and determine if they can allocate the necessary resources to support Portland's homeless shelters.

The takeaway

Portland's mayor is taking a proactive, collaborative approach to addressing the city's homelessness crisis by seeking financial assistance from neighboring counties. This regional cooperation could lead to expanded shelter capacity and services to better support the area's unhoused population.